Member Info for bandit1

Very good site LSE, call out people with a clear agenda and your post is removed. Tempted to go and use other sites as that is pathetic!!

It seems that around 5 funds could own more than 50% of the voting rights here and Coltrane have been building since June last year and therefore I expect their average will be in excess of �1 but can't be sure, and that excludes Goldmans who appear to be the principal source of stock for the short funds. If we assume that there are other funds with around 3% and previous RNS's suggest this to be the case then there could be 70% of the voting rights held by a relatively small number of funds. So what you may say. This can work both ways of course but I wonder if there have been suggestions by these powerful funds that certain assets are realized to reduce the debt burden and in coming weeks and months we see a number of announcements which show the market that the sum of the parts of this company are much greater than we currently see.

Coltrane are a long/short hedge fund ( event driven) who have taken an aggressive position here. They are NOT business owners so will not breach 30% which under Rule 9 of The Takeover Code would require them to make a mandatory offer. I am intrigued by their position building which will stop short of 30%. I suspect they are talking with Debbie and the team. The founder has a background of activist investing and like us sees an opportunity here which I see as a positive but just wanted to dispel any talk of a takeover offer from them as this is not what they do. They will be battling the shorts here so hopefully they will encourage some of the short funds to cover their positions so we can see the price move towards �1 sooner rather than later.

Cubic Zirconia has been around for over 40 years and cultured diamonds have also been around for some time. The market for CZ is stable but the customer bases are entirely different to those who prefer natural diamonds. As global wealth increases and markets such as China and India grow with vast middle class aspirants the demand for natural diamonds in my view will continue at a steady pace. Challenge for PDL is not to be concerned about overall market size but for managment to up their game, improve operational performance, manage down debt levels and deploy recently raised working capital to increase production and efficiency of business. CEO is under pressure now to deliver after going cap In hand to shareholders and must step up and show shareholders that he deserves to be in his position this time next year.

Yes perhaps you should....! I often say to myself that I should avoid companies with a majority of business operations in Africa given risk of corruption, blanket and immediate changes in law or tax regimes but of course risk and opportunity often sit closely together and Petra presents opportunities at these levels with lower debt , reduced interest bill and some working capital cushion. Management need to engage and update shareholders more than they have in the past though in my opinion.

There are daily examples of insider dealing and this is probably one although one can never be sure. Regulators do not have the resources to investigate and prosecute as there are just too many examples and trying to prove that the brother in law of the secretary within one of the law firms acting for the company in the RI shorted along with his mates is virtually impossible. Irritating I know but one of the consequences of playing this game.

Always tough to anticipate these and not always negative long term if the funds are used intelligently to steady the ship and put it on a more positive path. Problems in Tanzania : seized parcel, production delays, trouble reclaiming VAT etc has had a big negative working capital impact which has forced the RI which is fully underwritten. Forward looking statements in here suggest the second half is going to plan but don't get the impression it is particualarly strong but that is simply reading between the lines due to the general nature of comments. I suspect this will drop to around 60p and hold at that level for a period which is the 5-year low point. Not sure if it is worth buying in at these levels unless tHe investor call can provide a little more optimism.

I also sold a fairly sizeable chunk when it hit 80p earlier in the week. Why - it rose nicely from low 60's and I do not trust the mamangement team as communication is very poor hence my strategy is to trade this rather than buy and hold which is what I do when I am confident in the management team. Williamson is a problem and missing parcel has been conveniently ignored by management which is shocking by any standards. Grow some and tell shareholders that it was seized due to some by some unscrupulous employees operating alone as a 'fine' for trying to avoid tax or if there is corruption do something else such as sell the mine as in that case it will happen again and shareholder value will disappear into the ether again! In the meantime I will wait and see if this drifts back and will enter again. Seems that others have similar strategies. Trust is everything in this game and obfuscation results in short-term trading patterns for me at least.

Yes they have, as have Brightstone in the last week hence the price drop from 85p to 70p and as far as I can glean the hedge fund short sales have been between 900k and say 1.2m shares over that period so not huge amounts but exacerbated by the FSA announcement and possible forward sales by warrant holders was an ideal opportunity for short funds to pile on the pressure and the market makers naturally take it down. On the other hand, buying pressure has lifted it a littlest last couple of days which is encouraging. I am long here so I would say this, but worth reflecting on the fact that this company has been to hell and back these last few months with bad news coming at it from every angle yet management continue to step up and deal with the issues face on and do not attempt to obfuscate. That suggests to me that we have a robust exec team in place to lead us into better times. How you handle a crisis can tell you a lot more about people than when everything is rosy in my own view.

Sure there was probably some forward selling ahead of the warrant issue, there usually is. What some here need to consider is that the company's broker will have had extensive discussions with the top team when the warrants were issued guiding them on the likely impact on volume and potential pressure on the price etc. So, why did we see new share purchases from our CEO with this knowledge? Answer - she knows what fair value looks like in 6, 12, 18 months time as the benefits of having kitchen sinked the business feeds through, coupled with reduced debt levels and properly priced NEW contracts enhancing margins. This will go up and down in the short term so will attract the 5% mob for a while but I am seeking 100% so look forward to seeing the fruits in 6,12 18 months time.

Don't get me wrong, I realize that everyone has agendas I just like the facts to be presented in a fair way so as not to mislead! What really irritates the hell out of me is that the FCA is 15 months too late here which pretty much sums them up. Just as the management team draw a line under past failings this happens.The company will battle through I am sure and I will keen to see if any of the ex-management team sold ahead of these announcements..........

I think what you meant to add was that the period this relates to was before fhe CEO/CFO were appointed and I suspect that they uncovered this and advised the regulators. I wonder why you failed to clarify this in your post. Is it because you don't hold shares here?

Redhead - I could not agree more. Debbie must be thinking that with all that she knows about the company following a root and branch review, multiple consultants reorganizing and enhancing operating efficiency, providing the kitchen sink in last year's accounts etc, etc, that she must not let the opportunity, to load up in the 80's pass her by. The Capita RO has been the catalyst to pull us down today in my view but I am very relaxed here now and in time should enjoy a very strong return.

Often compared to a casino due to nonsense like this. In other words pity those poor souls who sold at 27p this morning and have to pay 32p to get back in!! On the other hand those responsible for aiding the drop will have made a turn, that there is no doubt. I often wonder if some of the less than scrupulous market makers are part of these gigs......but we'll probably never know!! Lessons will be learned by some but sadly others will make the same mistakes no doubt again, and again. Treat posts on here with a degree of circumspect until validated is always a good approach. Yes I invest 10% of my assets on AIM because I can deliver a pretty good return but it is key is to be able to smell the carp at 100 paces and spot the trolls and their agendas early on. On we go.......

Fanning said ....." all material problems with creditors and litigation are behind us........" . So, for those of you who sold in panic this morning ( others bought I see mmmmmmm) suggest you get back in before you have egg on your chin!!

The experienced on here will know that there will always be those who will do ANYTHING to make money and they concentrate on AIM as the regulators are totally ineffective and there are countless examples we could all think of just in case there are regulators reading this which am very much doubt! So, for those who sell in panic before the company has provided any form of commentary on the situation you may regret that you took action based on a press article without waiting to hear from the management in which you invested. I tend to wait until I hear FACTS from accountable directors and then make a reasoned decision based on what the FACTS tell me. Now, ask yourself the question. Why would management issue an RNS a few weeks ago full of optimism and hope, with cash in the Bank and a lot owed to it if they were genuinely concerned about this posturing by ST? I for one look forward to a formal update and in the meantime will dream that those who attempt to manipulate will come unstuck st some point......

Sorry but you haven't quite grasped my point. I don't want a faceless, unaccountable nom de plume updating me on a company in which I am significantly invested. I do my own research but rely upon directors to do so as they should and usually disinvest if they do not. I am 'trapped' here after the Alkhani fraud and decided to stick it out despite our management failings more in hope rather than belief that AB would ever create value. So, less of the ' I will be proved right' please as this will probably come good but try not to take too much credit for it just because you have developed a phone relationship with a less than impressive CEO. My advice to you is don't feed the trolls as you have been doing that in spades over the last few weeks. No offence intended just saying what I observe.

I am sure you will remember me from posting a few months ago when I described you as the self-proclaimed cheerleader of BMR! You will also remember that I called for AB's resignation and received modest support from the regulars in fact you were keen that he should remain as ' better the devil you know' or words to that effect. He is one of the most ineffective CEO's I have come across in my 30+ years of trading/investing and never fails to disappoint. After the licence debacle I invested in JLP as a hedge as I have always believed in the value of assets at Kabwe. I believe we have an outside chance of making some sort of return here now. I am always appreciative of posters doing research and sharing useful information. What troubles me with your posts in which you summarize your regular callls with our esteemed CEO is that he will be fully aware that you will share the replies on these chat rooms yet appears worryingly camera or keyboard shy in keeping shareholder informed through the proper channels. Indeed, my sense is that he only communicates when he has to rather than behaving as a CEO should hence why I believe that he is not worthy of this position. He has �40k invested you say and that is enough despite his multiple directorships. I have more invested here. So, the point I am making here is either that you are disingenuous in your claims that you speak regularly to him or he is a fool for talking to you as he does and should not be in his position. You appear a decent chap so apologies if I have it wrong but either way I am right!!! Roll-on mid-June so this charade can come to an end and we can start to see the wood from the trees with some proper leaders calling the shots.

Really difficult to figure out what is going on here with BofA selling down and HSBC filling up. Why would BofA sell down at this stage after sitting on this holding through much more uncertain times? Answers on a postcard please! My sense is that it is related to a potential transaction which we will learn about at some point in the future. I will say that this is a hunch only. Given the small free float it is quite difficult to build a large holding without the price spiking so off market transactions take place at a level mere mortals are not privvy to. There is no doubt in my mind that it suits some for the price to stay at these levels and yes there are daily examples of price manipulation on the markets before some say this is pure fantasy. Patience will be rewarded in spades here over the next few months. An exciting period ahead.

Great opportunity for those new investors to get in at this point. Big gain over 1-3 year period for those with patience.